Vyapam: CBI files 18th FIR

New Delhi: The CBI on Thursday registered its 18th FIR in connection with its ongoing probe in the Vyapam scam in Madhya Pradesh.

The first information report (FIR) was registered against 64 people related to the alleged illegalities committed in the police constable recruitment examination conducted by Vyapam in 2013.

The FIR was registered under charges of cheating, criminal conspiracy, and under the IT Act, Prevention of Corruption Act and the Madhya Pradesh Recognized Examination Act.

It includes the name of then controller of examinations Pankaj Trivedi, then system analyst Nitin Mohindra, then senior system analyst Ajay Kumar Sen, then officer on special duty (OSD) Raj Bhavan Dhanraj Yadav and then OSD to the minister for technical education Om Prakash Shukla.

The Central Bureau of Investigation has already registered 17 FIRs and launched 10 preliminary inquiries into the scam in the Vyavsayik Pariksha Mandal (Vyapam) — or the Madhya Pradesh Professional Examination Board (MPPEB).

The Supreme Court on July 9 handed over the Vyapam cases to the central agency for investigation. More than 40 people linked with the scam have died under mysterious circumstances.

Indore: The Indore district court accused two people, Akshat Singh and Prakash Baria for their alleged involvement in cheating and forgery in the examinations for the veterinary diploma conducted by Vyapam on March 19, 2013.

The government prosecutor PL Malviya said, “Akshat Singh entered the examination hall with an identity card which was actually issued to Prakash Baria. The invigilator at the centre found a mismatch between Akshat Singh’s photo and the photo printed on the identity card. The aberration found by the school staff was immediately informed to the MG Nagar police station by the principal.”

Further inquiry revealed that Akshat Singh was impersonating Prakash Baria in order to write the test.

“Akshat Singh was paid by Baria. He himself wanted him to write the test on his behalf”, said Malviya.

Under section 389 of the CRPC, both of them were released on bail to further contest their case in higher courts.(input from agencies)